On November 1, razors around the world will go on break – at least as it relates to moustache hair. For “Movember” – men’s health awareness month – men will start sprouting moustaches to show their support of the men’s health movement.
In support, I have a special invitation with regard to men and their legs, as leg health plays a fundamental role in a man’s overall health. Take advantage of a free Duplex Doppler Ultrasound screening to rule out venous insufficiency if you are having any symptoms of fatigue, swelling, pain or restlessness in your legs, or if you have varicose or spider veins.
Healthy legs make it easier to both exercise and rest well, and venous health is a critically important part of overall leg health. Leg veins carry blood pumped by the calf muscle up, against gravity, to the heart and lungs to be re-oxygenated. Vein problems – usually caused by the failure of delicate, one-way valves in the veins – impact some 20 to 30 million Americans.
When the valves fail and blood flows backwards, or refluxes, blood pools, pressure builds, and varicose and spider veins may appear. Other symptoms of venous insufficiency may include achiness, swelling, itching, a need to move at night or a sense of having “crawling flesh.”
While the majority of our patients at VeinInnovations are women, we know that men also believe heavy, tired and restless legs are just part of aging. With men more likely to ignore symptoms, and because symptoms build at such a slow rate, many men don’t realize how badly they are hurting. By the time they come for treatment, many have tortured, bulging veins. Some have stopped exercising; many have not slept well in years. The combination of losing exercise and sleep impacts overall quality of life, diminishes health and ages you prematurely. After our minimally invasive treatments, many patients are amazed by just how quickly treatment restored their vitality and ability to rest.
While in Movember men become “walking billboards” for men’s health by growing moustaches, they should also “walk the walk” with healthier legs. Don’t ignore your symptoms anymore – instead, schedule an ultrasound screening and take an important step toward better health.
